San Francisco, June 9(People’s Daily Online)--United Airlines announced Monday the opening of a new nonstop flight between San Francisco and Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province in Southwest China.

Linking the gateway of the United States with China’s fourth largest city, the flight is also the first nonstop flight from the United States to Chinese mainland beyond Beijing and Shanghai.

Dave Hilfman, United Airlines’ senior vice president of worldwide sales, said that "With more than 250 of the Fortune 500 companies located in the area, and as home to the giant panda and Sichuan cuisine, Chengdu will be a popular destination for both business and leisure travelers."

United Airlines uses the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to operate the three-times-weekly service. And the flight departs San Francisco International Airport at 1:25 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and arrives at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at 6:40 p.m. the following day (all times local). For the return, the flight departs at 9:50 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and arrives at San Francisco International Airport at 8:40 a.m. the same day. Flying times will be approximately 14 hours, 15 minutes westbound and 13 hours, 50 minutes eastbound.

Chengdu is the ninth destination United Airlines serves in the Asia-Pacific region nonstop from San Francisco. In the city, United offers more nonstop trans-Pacific flights from the U.S. than any other carrier.